Only A Game? - If a woman is quick enough then let her race

Andrew Quinn

Some of the worst driving I have ever witnessed in my life has come as a result of women drivers.

Be that as it may, men are pretty awful too and those attempting to convince themselves of otherwise are practicing the dark art of self-deception.

A big part of what makes F1 drivers go from being participants to champions is how they think.

Obviously a physical fitness, raw talent and experience play a big part too but an intelligent mindset can often differ between coming first and coming second.

Despite what others may think, certain mindsets are not gender specific and with that nugget of information in mind there is absolutely no reason why female drivers could not compete against the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

I am huge advocate of meritocracy and if a woman is fast enough in an F1 car to compete with her male counterparts then as far as I am concerned she has what it takes.

It’s not often that I agree with Formula One CEO, Bernie Ecclestone but I also believe an all female F1 World Championship would be a step in the right direction.

Some might say that gender segregation is a step in the wrong direction but think about it like this. If female drivers were as quick or even quicker than their male counterparts in the same cars and on the same tracks then there can be noargument.

It’s utterly ridiculous to think that in 2015 there is no all female F1 World Championship. The sport is widely followed by women all over the world. In fact some of the most passionate sports fans I have ever met have been female F1 supporters.

Spanish female driver Carmen Jordá doesn’t believe that men and women should compete on the race track but she does support the idea of an all female F1 World Championship.

When I think of some of the drivers who have driven in F1 over the years I find it incredulous to think that the best female drivers in the world could not have done a better job

Andrew Quinn - Sunday Journal sports columnist

Jordá competed against men in GP3 from 2012 to 2014 and her greatest ever finish was 28th with Ocean Racing Technology in 2012.

Earlier this year, Jordá was unveiled as a development driver for Lotus’ F1 team.

Jordá is not the only woman to have been somewhat embraced by F1.

Sauber signed Simona de Silvestro as an affiliated driver – although sadly, and frustratingly, the relationship stagnated – while Williams has handed Susie Wolff two free practice sessions, test days, and with the promise of more track time to follow.

The day a woman properly lines out against men in an F1 race might still be far away but the philosophy of the sport is definitely changing.

When I think of some of the drivers who have driven in F1 over the years I find it incredulous to think that the best female drivers in the world could not have done a better job.

F1 is a sport driven (really bad pun, I know) and motivated by money and sponsorship. I can’t even begin to imagine the level of publicity a woman racing in F1 would receive in today’s society - she would be a sponsor’s dream come true.

I am not for one moment suggesting that the novelty factor should decide whether or not a woman should be able to drive in an F1 Championship but the financial benefits is certainly something to be thought about.

Meritocracy is the only way forward for any sport and if an all female F1 Championship is a way of attaining that then so be it.